West U City Council to Discuss On-Street Parking Issues

June 25, 2012

The West U City Council will hold a workshop tonight to discuss on-street parking issues in the city.

The city held three town hall meetings in April to hear from residents about their concerns and suggestions for improving or changing on-street parking regulations. Nothing is being proposed at this time.

More than 200 people turned out for the town hall meetings and numerous people submitted comments to the city by e-mail. Some residents favored parking on one side of the street, some favored parking permits, while others wanted the council to consider changes to streets on a case by case basis or do nothing.

City Manager Michael Ross said there are 17 different street widths in West U, ranging from 21 ft. to 35 ft. and 50 ft. on University.

Pictures were projected during the town hall meetings of city vehicles driving down narrow streets, trying to pass by legally parked cars. An ambulance, fire truck and solid waste vehicle were shown in the 3400 block of Georgetown, a 24 ft. wide street, and the vehicles could barely pass by the cars parked on the street.

The city’s traffic engineering consultant analyzed the comments and information from the town hall meetings and will make recommendations to the city council during tonight’s meeting.

Re-evaluating on-street parking and parking across sidewalks is one of council’s 2011-2013 goals. Parking problems were the number one issue that came up when the council members were block walking for the May 2011 election.

Council will meet at 5 p.m. in the conference room in city hall, 3800 University Blvd.